Ksp 58 machine gun
The Ksp 58 (Swedish: Kulspruta 58) is a Swedish variant of the Belgian FN MAG general purpose machine gun that is currently being manufactured by the Swedish company Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori and was adopted by the Swedish Armed Forces in 1958.
Ksp 58 | |
---|---|
Type | General-purpose machine gun |
Place of origin | Belgium Sweden |
Service history | |
In service | 1958–present |
Used by | Swedish Armed Forces |
Wars | War in Afghanistan |
Production history | |
Designer | Ernest Vervier |
Designed | 1950s |
Manufacturer | FN Herstal Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori |
Produced | 1958–present |
Variants | Ksp 58 B Ksp 58 C Ksp 58 D Ksp 58 DF Ksp 58 Strv |
Specifications | |
Mass | 11.79 kg (25.99 lb) |
Length | 1,263 mm (49.7 in) |
Barrel length | 630 mm (24.8 in) |
Width | 118.7 mm (4.7 in) |
Height | 263 mm (10.4 in) |
Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO, 6.5×55mm (Ksp 58A) |
Action | Gas-operated, open bolt |
Rate of fire | 650–1,000 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 840 m/s (2,756 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 800 m |
Maximum firing range | 1,800 m from tripod |
Feed system | Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt |
Sights | Folding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade |
History
After 1945, many countries are trying to produce their own machine guns based on the MG 42 design. In the early 1950s, Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal succeeded in developing a general-purpose machine gun called the MAG. The initial Ksp 58A version used by Sweden was chambered for 6.5×55mm, while the B and later models were chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO.
Users
Sweden: Used by the Swedish Armed Forces since 1958 to the present.[1][2]
Latvia : Ksp 58B version in use. Was first received from Sweden in 1990's as military aid.
Estonia : Ksp 58B version in use. Was first received from Sweden in 1990's as military aid.
Lithuania : Ksp 58B version in use. Was first received from Sweden in 1990's as military aid.
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2016-12-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Medeltung kulspruta 58. Retrieved on October 9, 2008. (in Swedish)
- Henrik Svensk. "SoldF". SoldF. Retrieved 2011-06-24.